Classical
Rome and Hellenistic Mediterranean Bibliography

500 BCE to 300 CE

copyright 1997 by Historical Novelists Center

Remember that many of your better Romans will be conversant
with Greek culture, so you should do some studying in that area,
too.

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Apicius

Apicius Cookery and Dining in Ancient Rome *****!
edited and translated by Joseph Dommers Vehling; Dover Publications,
NY
Food is so important to human life and society, that a novel
without mention of the distinctive food of a culture seems stilted.
This is the oldest surviving cookbook. T2

Barron, R. H.

Slavery in the Roman Empire *****!
Not only covers how one winds up a slave and lives as a slave,
but how one becomes part of the important freedman class. T2

Boucher, Francois

Twenty Thousand Years of Fashion; the History
of Costume and Personal Adornment ****
Harry N. Abrams, 1966; 440 pg, index, glossary
Good on the change and development of Roman styles, from the
toga of the Republic to the tunic and dalmatica of the divided
Empire. T1

Bourliere, Francois

The Land and Wildlife of Eurasia YY
Time-Life Books, NY, 1964, 2nd ed. 1974; 198 pg, index, bibliography
History of domestication and extinction tells you when things
were found where, for animals and plants. A basic text. T3

Brauer, George C.

The Decadent Emperors: Power & Depravity
in Third Century Rome ****
Barnes & Noble, 241 pgs
Good, juicy, liscivious scandal on the worst five emperors in
a row: Geta, Caracalla, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander, and Gordian.
Worse or marginally better than Tiberius, Nero and the other
early bad boys? Here's all the evidence against one side. T2

Warrior's Weapons ***
Crowell, NY, 1963; illustrated by author
Good on early and non-ferrous metallurgy, including the development
of swords shapes. Simply, pleasantly written. T2

Carpenter, Rhys, Edith Hamilton, William Hayes, et
al

Everyday Life in Ancient Times; Highlights of
the Beginnings of Western Civilization in Mesopotamia, Egypt,
Greece, and Rome **
National Geographic Society, NY, 1964; 368 pg, index
The Roman section is a decent basic overview. T1

Cornell, Tim, & John Matthews

The Cultural Atlas of the World: The Roman World
****
orig London, 1986; has been through several American publishers,
including Stonehenge Press of Time-Life, and Facts On File
Excellent maps with the period names of places, which otherwise
have to be dug up in maddening piecemeal. Mostly the many cities
covered with several paragraphs and a couple of photos of ruins
or artifacts. The articles on Roman culture at the different
periods that introduce the sections are very good, and less completely
military-political than they might be. T1

Cumont, Franz

Astrology and Religion Among the Greeks and
Romans ***
Dover Publications, Inc., NY
The title sums it up. This is not another myth-collection, but
shows the practices your characters will see and use. T2

The Mysteries of Mithra ****
Dover Publications, Inc., NY
Mithraism was a close rival to Christianity at one period, very
popular in the Legions, and probably only beaten out because
early Christianity gave women a notable role, taken away later.
Many of your characters may know about Mithraism (out of Mesopotamia)
or practice it. Unlike Christianity, Mithraism can co-exist with
the Imperial cult. T2

The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism ****
Dover Publications, Inc., NY
Besides the Roman pantheon, connected to the Greek, many completely
foreign Deities moved into Rome, including Isis (whose followers
were long persecuted like the later Christians), the Magna Mater,
Mithra, Cybele and Attis, etc. T2

Delbrueck, Hans

Warfare in Antiquity ****
v. 1 of History of the Art of War, trans. by J. Renfroe, Jr.;
University of Nebraska Press; 1975 trans of 1920 rev.; 604 pg

The Barbarian Invasions ****
v. 2 of History of the Art of War, trans. by J. Renfroe, Jr.;
University of Nebraska Press; 1980 trans. of 1921 rev.; 505 pg,
index, sources, translations of source documents
First volume concludes with Caesar.
Excellent discussion of the brevity of the existence of the Roman
Legionnaire, who after Caesar (over a number of centuries) became
a barbarian mercenary no longer capable of phalanx-like combat:
changes of gear and behavior especially covered, as when later
Legions are innocently and accurately described as having the
same behaviors as the barbarians described by earlier authors.
Superb coverage of the development of the late Roman army, and
the location and conduct of such notable battles as Teutoberger
Forest and Aliso. T2

Divine, David

Hadrian's Wall: The Northwest Frontier of Rome
****
244 pgs
Examines the wall not just in terms of military science, but
its effect as an economic drain to defend and man. T3

Dix, Helmut

Die Etruscanische Cognomen ****
German translating software does not contain specialist terms
for onomastics! Dix believes that the Romans took the three-name
system of praenomen, nomen and cognomen from their first culture-masters,
the Etruscans. Very good case for it, but the names are mixed
in a plethora of tables. Deep, scholarly. T1

Embleton, R., & F. Graham

Hadrian's Wall in the Days of the Romans *****!
Everything you need to know about northern Britannia in the second
century CE. T2

Fox, R. L.

Alexander the Great *****!
A good, fat, gossipy detail biography running about 600 pages
of the details you need. T3

Giacosa, Ilaria Gozzini

A Taste of Ancient Rome *****!
200 recipes for your kitchen, from Apicius but also Cato, Martial,
Petronius, and Juvenal. Includes Roman habits of eating and drinking,
shopping, and entertaining. T1

Ginouves, R., ed.

Macedonia from Philip II to Roman Conquest *****!
You can't do Macedonia justice without this book. Heavy on the
archeology. T3

Cleopatra: A Biography ****
Barnes & Noble
At last, a detail biography of one of the most argued personalities
of her time, A Macedonian (resident overseas for a few centuries)
queen who tried to revive, not the glories of ancient Egypt,
but those of Alexander the Great. T2

Gladiators *****!
Barnes & Noble
Rome without gladiators? Never. This gives you a detailed study
of their development from the 200's BC through their prohibition
in the 400's CE. T2

Grant, Robert M.

Augustus to Constantine: The Emergence of Christianity
in the Roman World
Barnes & Noble, NY
Covering from 14 CE to the death of Constantine in 337. The title
says it all. T2

Hale, William Harlan, and the editors of Horizon Magazine

The Horizon Cookbook and Illustrated History
of Eating and Drinking Through the Ages ****
American Heritage Publishing, Inc., 1968
Part One has the description of customs and habits, foods available,
and some interesting art. Part Two has the tastiest recipes,
done for the modern kitchen. Especially hits this period in Part
One. T1

Hammond, N.

Philip of Macedon ***
A good biography of the king who laid the political and military
basis for the success of his son, Alexander the Great. T3

Hatzoupoulos, M. B.

Philip of Macedon ****
Covers not only the ancient biographical sources, but turns to
archeological knowledge of the time. T3

Hogg, Ian V.

The History of Fortification ***
St. Martin's Press, NY, 1981
Clear, interesting and accurate overview from 7000 BC through
the 1970's, well illustrated with photos and diagrams; bibliography
and glossary. T2

Hope, Thomas

Costumes of the Greeks & Romans *****!
19th C.; 300 pg, 700 illus.
Line drawings from ancient art (largely vase paintings) of the
rich and the poor, military and civilian, and quite a bit of
household goods. T1

Hyland, Ann

Equus: The Horse in the Roman World ****
New Haven/London, Yale University Press, 1990
Very complete treatment, including asses and mules, cavalry horses
and race horses. Covers up through the Theodosian codes. Heavy
on the Arabophilia, which leads her into unwarranted assumptions
like "Erembian (equates with Libyan as to type)" when
the type of the Erembian is never described by the ancients,
and Arabia is a long way from the area then known as Libya, but
she tried the reconstructed bits and saddles on her Roman-sized
horse and herself, and otherwise used her excellent background
as a breeder and 3-day eventer. Breeds are really her only weak
point. T3

Training the Roman Cavalry: from Arrian's Ars
Tactica *****!
Alan Sutton
Our favorite specialist in the development of horses and cavalry
reminds us not all the Roman Legions marched: some rode. catch
this unusual view of the Roman military, on which the ancient
aristocracy, the equites, sometimes translated knights, based
their superior status. T2

Ingraham, Holly

People's Names: A Cross-cultural Reference Guide
to the Proper Use of Over 40,000 Personal and Familial Names
in Over 100 Cultures *****!
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Jefferson, NC; 1997;
613 pgs, index, select annotated bibliography
Roman naming practice was so complex and picky! This may be the
only place all the rules are together in one place, with lots
of choices on the pick-lists, and a section of completely invented
cognomens. Also, chapters for all your foreigners, whether Gauls,
Germans, Egyptians, Greeks, Carthaginians, or anything much else
around the Mediterranean, including Etruscans. T1

Kiefer, Otto

Sexual Life in Ancient Rome *****!
Barnes & Noble, NY
Wicked, wicked Rome! Even if your protagonists are pure of heart,
mind, and body, it's hard to resist the urge to show all the
temptatiion they're resisting. The less inhibited of you should
get this very quickly. T1

Kohler, Carl

A History of Costume ****
Dover Publications, Inc., NY
Hand-sized, info-packed, based on surviving clothes first and
artwork secondarily. Author's line drawings of construction and
detail. Neophytes should use with a picture book, which it will
greatly clarify. T1

Lefkowitz, Mary R. and Maureen B. Fant

Women's Life in Greece and Rome: A Source Book
in Translation *****!
Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1992
All the exerpts they could find in ancient literature to do with
women: marriage contracts, economic documents, mentions in trial
oratory, histories and legends, translated from the Greek and
Latin. This is the raw material from which others' views of the
period are built. T2/3

Livingston, Helen

In the Footsteps of Caesar; Walking Roman Roads
in Britain ****
Dial, London; 192 pgs
From London into Wales and Yorkshire, this book follows the roads
through a contemporary landscape documented in photos and through
their history in the text. Emphasis on Roman remains along the
route. If you can't make the trip, this will make up the lack;
if you can make the trip, take this and two pairs of walking
shoes along. T3

Majno, Guido, MD

The Healing Hand: Man and Wound in the Ancient
World *****!
Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1975
Heavy research and testing, too, to see how well period practices
actually worked. Fascinating reading. Among others, covers classic
medicine of the Ancient Near East and Egypt, as well as Hippocrates
of Greece and Galen of Rome. T1

Matz, David

An Ancient Rome Chronology, 264-27 BC ****
McFarland & Company, Jefferson NC, 1996; 240 pg, appendices,
bibliography, index
Excellent basis for working this period (later Republic). We
can only hope Matz has the next volume in the works. Six sections:
politics; law, decrees, and speeches; military and warfare; literature;
art and architecture; and the real good stuff in miscellaneous,
like disasters, births, marriages, sports events, religious changes,
etc. T1

McEvedy, Colin

The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History ***
Penguin Books, 1967; 96 pg, index
A handy, small book, showing who rules what when, in the stretch
from Persia to the Atlantic, from prehistory to about 300 CE.
T1

Meier, Christian

Caesar ****
Basic; 513 pg
Detail biography, concentrating not exclusively on the man, but
placing him in juxtoposition to the wider political and social
situation of the flagging Republic. T3

Mommsen, Theodor

The Provinces of the Roman Empire ****
Barnes & Noble, 752 pgs
No lightweight, this is one of the better references for life
outside of the immediate Italian-Roman world. There is room for
lots of books out here, where Roman meets Celt, Iberian, Scythian,
Egyptian, Numidian, Carthaginian, etc. T2

Newark, Tim

Women Warlords: An Illustrated Military History
of Female Warriors ***
Blandford, NY, 1989; index; Angus McBride, illustrator
Primarily useful here on Zenobia, Queen of the East, and the
Palmyrene War of Aurelian, without whom Rome would have lost
Egypt, Syria, and Asia Minor. T2

O'Brien, John, M.

Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy ****
Routledge

Peddie, John

The Roman War Machine ****
Alan Sutton, London
Rather than just Legionnary arms and tactics, this book concentrates
on the backup an army needs. The logistics of food and communication
are covered well. T2

Perowne, Stewart

Hadrian ***
Barnes & Noble, NY
This biography covers the usual accomplishments, which were considerable,
with the unusual point that Hadrian may have inadvertently and
certainly unwillingly contributed to the strengthening of Christianity.
T2

Reader's Digest

Everyday Life Through the Ages *
Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, NY, 1992
"Citizens of Proud Rome" pg 86-101 The pictures are
lovely, of statuary, wall paintings, ceramics, etc., with the
usual heavy debt to Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well to Eastern
mosaics. Thin, even for this fast overview book. T1

Rodgers, William Ledyard, V.Adm, USN ret.

Greek and Roman Naval Warfare, A Study of Strategy,
Tactics, and Ship Design from Salamis (480 BC) to Actium (31
BC) ****
1937, 1964; now from Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD; 555
pg (thick; there are 618 pg books notably smaller), index, Authorities
Consulted at the end of each chapter.
Brilliant reconstructions of the ships, based on explicit engineering
data, which he is used to finding "in any handbook,"
the like of which we have not been able to find, on use of human
strength. His experience with rowed cutters, rather than power
launches, is also valuable. See especially his reconstruction
of Actium, where the Egyptian fleet charges the Roman line, rather
than Cleopatra being guilty of flight while her side had not
yet lost. T3

Sakellariou, Michael

Macedonia, 4000 Years of Greek Culture ****
Takes the area from prehistory to the present.

Salmonson, Jessica Amanda

The Encyclopedia of Amazons: Women Warriors
from Antiquity to the Modern Era *****!
Paragon House, NY, 1991; 290 pg, no index, bibliography
Very few Roman women made it in here, but there are plenty of
Hellenistic warrior-queens of Egypt and Macedon, and many a Scythian
or other eastern Amazon, including Zenobia, who nearly conquered
the eastern half of the Empire. T2

Salway, Peter

The Oxford Illustrated History of Roman Britain
****
Oxford University Press; 563 pg
Excellent grounding from the first invasion by Caesar to the
early 400's. T1-2

Wand, J. W. C.

A History of the Early Church to A. D. 500 ****
1937; now from Routledge; 300 pgs
Covers the development of the Christers from a conventional viewpoint,
watching the development of Paulism into the state cult of the
Empire: missionaries, heretics, councils, and all. T2

Wannington, B. H.

Carthage: A History
Barnes & Noble
A more contemporary approach using archeological data on the
Carthaginian empire would be appreciated. This owes much to Roman
and Hebrew authors, who were absolutely hostile to the Carthaginians,
as were the Greeks, who fought them so continually over Sicily.
T2

Warry, John

Warfare in the Classical World ****
Salamander Books, London, 1980
Excellent coverage of naval as well as land forces, including
very recent reconstructions of pentekonters, triremes, etc. Covers
the enemy troops, as well as the Greeks and Romans. T1

A guide to other web sources, also includes bibliographies
of interest. The other half of the species is too often treated
"like normal" (for us) or merely as "comfort women,"
in novels. Yet as the changing front page story here shows, it
is not so simple if you are accurate. Has a whole section, "De
Feminis Romanis."

"Fine Literature Digitally Republished. Since 1971 putting
classic books into electronic form." You can download all
the major classics for free, each as a single big text file. MUCH
better than Perseus. Burn your own reference CD-R.

A thorough-going linksite maintained by the University of California
at Riverside, H-GIG sorts by area, by era (ancient<yours>,
Medieval, early Modern, Modern, and 20th C), or by topic (military,
women, etc.). It's a good place to start a hunt for books and
essays online.

MIT Classics department compiles the Perseus Project and other
sources. Includes Plutarch, Tacitus, Virgil, and a lot of others.
Each work (play, essay, epic) loads as a single page, making it
easy to Search for specific words, and has a Download option.
Very large works are available as one page or three, to cut time.
Get the "unlimited time for $20" deal from a direct
web service with a local access number for you, and you can consider
this site part of your home library that doesn't have to be dusted.
This is what we all hoped the Internet would be!

Just names and dates reigned, including the split Empire. Also
has a 1867 engraved map of the Empire at its greatest extent,
in 119 CE, with all the old names, in case you haven't been able
to find where Moesia lies or the narrow limits of Hispania. T1

Clear photos of a miniature reconstruction, gone quite brown,
we believe, with age. The whole city, not just the forum, including
gates and the islands of the Tiber. Includes the apartment buildings
as well as the temples. Excellent translation of text to English,
with none of the peculiarities one gets in instructions from Japanese
firms. T2

Contains complete plans and maps of the entire excavated area,
coded so that you can tell which walls belong to which building
- everything is quite cheek by jowl. Between this and Caen, you
will be able to picture Roman cities. Don't let the sometimes-title
fool you into thinking this is VR. Wouldn't it be great if someone
started with this plan and did reconstruct the city in a 3D program?
T3